News
COMING SOON! SANTI BANANA AND REMI THE SLOTH LEARN TO SWING TOGETHER
I’m excited to share Santi Banana and Remi the Sloth Learn to Swing Together will be released soon! A picture book for ages 4–7 that blends humor, heart, and social-emotional learning in a lush Costa Rican rainforest setting.
Santi Banana is a gentle, thoughtful monkey who loves calm moments and perfectly peeled bananas—no mush, no squish. Remi, a sloth who is anything but slow, loves big laughs, fast swings, and surprising everyone she meets. When Remi’s energetic play begins to overwhelm the other animals, both characters must navigate big feelings, communicate boundaries, and discover that friendship doesn’t mean changing who you are—it means listening and making room for different ways to play.
This story supports key SEL themes including emotional regulation, sensory differences, empathy, consent, and respectful communication, while remaining playful and visually driven. The book will include an easily accessible teacher discussion guide with classroom-ready questions and extension ideas, making it a strong fit for schools, libraries, and counselor-led read-alouds.
Santi Banana and Remi the Sloth Learn to Swing Together will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven SEL stories such as The Rabbit Listened and What If Everybody Did That?, and it offers series potential with its warm cast and rainforest world.
The violette series: special edition is avaILABLE ON aMAZON, bARNES & NOBLE, WALMART, & INGRAMSPARK.
The violette series: special edition is avaILABLE ON aMAZON, bARNES & NOBLE, WALMART, & INGRAMSPARK.
The violette series: special edition is avaILABLE ON aMAZON, bARNES & NOBLE, WALMART, & INGRAMSPARK.
Discover the joy and rhyme away with this special bilingual edition! Follow the adventures of a little girl who always wore her shoes backward, played with the biggest dollhouse, adored her little white dog Zion, had the curliest hair, and missed her Papa so much that she would often FaceTime him.
In this fun and colorful rhyming children's book, your little one will be fully engaged page after page. Rhyming isn't just entertaining; it teaches children how language and sounds work together as they eagerly anticipate the next words. Your child can also enjoy this special edition in its bilingual format, allowing them to read in multiple languages. This book is 100% child-friendly, with a clear flow of events and vibrant illustrations that make reading even more enjoyable!
¡Descubre la alegría y la rima con esta edición especial bilingüe! Sigue las aventuras de una niñita que siempre usaba sus zapatos al revés, jugaba con la casa de muñecas más grande, adoraba a su perrito blanco Zion, tenía el pelo más rizado y extrañaba tanto a su papá que a menudo lo llamaba por FaceTime.
En este divertido y colorido libro infantil con rimas, tu pequeño se involucrará por completo página tras página. Las rimas no solo son entretenidas; enseñan a los niños cómo el lenguaje y los sonidos funcionan juntos mientras esperan con entusiasmo las siguientes palabras. Tu hijo también puede disfrutar de esta edición especial en su formato bilingüe, lo que le permite leer en varios idiomas. ¡Este libro es 100% apto para niños, con un flujo claro de eventos e ilustraciones vibrantes que hacen que la lectura sea aún más agradable!
Book 5, Available Now on Amazon!
The violette series: special edition is avaILABLE ON aMAZON, bARNES & NOBLE, WALMART, & INGRAMSPARK.
The violette series: special edition is avaILABLE ON aMAZON, bARNES & NOBLE, WALMART, & INGRAMSPARK.
Sometimes missing a family member can be hard.
Violette misses her papa. They’ve been apart for too long as far as she is concerned. So, after much thought, Violette decides to facetime her papa from afar. She is thrilled to share with him all her pets. The idea of a new pet starts flowing, and papa reminds her of her favorite activity they can do while he visits. Will she really get a new giraffe, or will Violette be content with playing doctor?
Violette and Her Papa is the heartwarming tale of the bond between a grandfather and his granddaughter. Beautifully illustrated and filled with fun filled anticipation, this book is the perfect early reader that not only shows how important that bond is but brings all the fun of a special reunion.
Book 4, Available Now on Amazon!
Violette loves her hair, but sometimes it is too much! Her natural curls are the envy of the family. She loves all the ways she can wear it and things she can put in it. But when she is told no after asking her mother to cut it she starts to think. Does she need all this curly hair? All it takes to make up her mind is a quick look in the mirror. Do you know what she will decide? Read Violette and Her Curly Hair to find out. This beautifully illustrated story will have you smiling and maybe, just maybe, help you learn to love your hair too. Don't forget to order books 1-3, leave your reviews and sign up for my reader's list to always be kept up to date with news and more
Book 3, Available Now on Amazon!
Book 3, Violette and Her Little White Dog is available NOW on Amazon! Grab your copy today! This is book 3 of the Violette 5 book series, so be sure to grab books 1 & 2 if you haven't already. Leave your reviews and sign up for my reader's list to always be kept up to date with news and more
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Book 3, Available Now on Amazon!
Book 3, Violette and Her Little White Dog is available NOW on Amazon! Grab your copy today! This is book 3 of the Violette 5 book series, so be sure to grab books 1 & 2 if you haven't already. Leave your reviews and sign up for my reader's list to always be kept up to date with news and more
The Best Way to Multiply Your Happiness is to Share it With Others!
This is why I do what I do. Literacy for children has always been key for me. It was part of my job for over 14 years at one point. This picture right here is what makes my heart smile. This is awesome and to see my work in different schools, day cares, libraries, after school programs, and in the hands of children from all over the country makes all the hard work worth it. Thank you, Selina for sharing my book to the children of Adventure Academy at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Ca.
Auhor Interview with Jukebox Mind
Auhor Interview with Jukebox Mind
"If you have a dream, a passion, or an idea you want to share, don’t hesitate to strive for it. Although it’s taken me many years to finally accomplish my dream, it’s never too late. You got this!" - Marie Salas
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Lake Mathews Elementary, First-grade class.
Thank you to my friend Frances who shared Violette, Your Shoes are on Backward! with her first-grade class. She also sent me clips of what her students thought of the book. They were so cute! One student said, "I gave the book a thousand stars, I liked the whole entire book." Another student said, "I'll give it a one million stars because she is super funny when she wears her shoes backwards.
A Preschool in Sacramento, CA.
Thank you to a childhood friend for sharing my books with her sister's preschool in Sacramento, CA. These are simple ways to help me get my book out into the world for all the children to see. Thanks for your support!
Save the children after school program
Save the children after school program
Save the Children is an after-school program I had the pleasure of working for about 14 years. we engaged our students in a variety of activities, but literacy was the main component of the program. Thanks to my long-time friends and ex-coworkers for sharing my books with your Emergent Reader group out in Yucca Valley, Ca. Thank you Ceci & Tracey for your support.